Lawmakers propose ‘H.R. 420’ bill to federally regulate marijuana

A bill introduced to the House by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) seeks to legalize marijuana and regulate the industry like alcohol.

Rep. Blumenauer on Wednesday filed the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act that would effectively remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, the Associated Press reports.

Blumenauer numbered the bill as “H.R. 420” in reference to 420, an insider code used for cannabis since the 1970s.

“While the bill number may be a bit tongue in cheek, the issue is very serious. Our federal marijuana laws are outdated, out of touch and have negatively impacted countless lives,” Blumenauer said in a press release. “Congress cannot continue to be out of touch with a movement that a growing majority of Americans support. It’s time to end this senseless prohibition.”

The recently proposed legislation would remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list, and also establish a regulated cannabis market that would be overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

H.R. 420 is the third bill filed to address cannabis legalization in the new Congress that began last week, according to Forbes’ Tom Angell.

Smell The Truth is one of the internet’s most popular destinations for cannabis-related news and culture. This blog is not written or edited by SFGate or the San Francisco Chronicle. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

Smell The Truth

Smell The Truth is one of the internet's most popular destinations for cannabis-related news and culture. This blog is not written or edited by SFGate or the San Francisco Chronicle. The authors are solely responsible for the content.